Sometimes in 2000, the late burly Agriculture minister William Odongo Omamo, aka Kalieny (The Elephant), spoke at a function presided over by then President Daniel Arap Moi at Chemelil Sugar Company.
“Your Excellency, the Luo like water, they swim and bathe in rivers and lakes, they live by the side of water sources and that is why they are called River and Lake Nilotes. They eat from the lake. They are tall, black and proud of their heritage.”